Eaton’s Ekeler and Los Angeles Chargers run out of power in NFL Playoffs

It was a tough day for Austin Ekeler and the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL Playoffs on Sunday.

Facing the Patriots in New England, the Chargers and their second-year running back from Eaton saw the game slip away early in a 41-28 loss.

Ekeler, a 2013 Eaton High School graduate, had three catches for 19 yards with five targets from Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers. On one of those targets, Rivers looked for Ekeler in the end zone late in the third quarter of a 38-7 game, but the pass fell incomplete.

Ekeler did not have any rushing attempts and the Chargers managed only 19 total yards rushing on the Patriots, who will play in their eighth-straight AFC Championship game and 13th since 2001.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler warms up before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (The Associated PressSteven Senne)

New England, which led 38-7 at halftime, will face the Kansas City Chiefs for the second time this season for the AFC title. Kansas City will host New England at 4:40 p.m. MST on Sunday. New England defeated the Chiefs, 43-40 on Oct. 14 in Foxborough.

The Patriots had 498 total yards against L.A., with 347 in the first half to 128 for the Chargers.

Ekeler, 23, ends his season with six touchdowns on 958 total yards from scrimmage – rushing and receiving. Ekeler had 554 yards rushing with three touchdowns, and he caught 39 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns.

He’s a feel-good story for the league after joining the Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Division II Western Colorado State in 2017. At Western, Ekeler was a star, a standout, who broke nearly school rushing record, earned All-American status and he was a finalist in his senior year for the Harlon Hill Trophy – the Division II version of the Heisman Trophy.

Austin Ekeler

Before the Charger’s Wild Card Playoff game against the Ravens last week, Ekeler discussed his journey to the NFL with national sports talk radio host Jim Rome on Jan. 2.

Among the season highlights Ekeler discussed with Rome was playing in Denver in the Chargers’ regular-season finale. Ekeler had 58 yards on eight carries and a touchdown in the 23-9 L.A. win while playing in front of a lot of family.

"It was a great feeling," Ekeler told Rome. "Getting in the end zone one time added a little cherry on top and we got the win as well."

— Anne Delaney covers high school and recreational sports for The Greeley Tribune. Contact Anne at adelaney@greeleytribune.com, (970) 392-5647 or on Twitter @AnneGDelaney.